Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Sep 16 2011

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Recovers Slightly

Summary

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-September bounced slightly higher to 57.8 following its August plunge to 55.7. A reading of 56.0 had been expected by Action Economics. Nevertheless, the reading was [...]


The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for mid-September bounced slightly higher to 57.8 following its August plunge to 55.7. A reading of 56.0 had been expected by Action Economics. Nevertheless, the reading was well below the Q2 average of 71.9 and close to figures several months before the last recession's end. A higher reading of current economic conditions accounted for the September gain but expectations fell to a new low. During the last ten years there has been a 62% correlation between the level of sentiment and the three-month change in real personal consumption.

The Reuters/University of Michigan survey data are not seasonally adjusted. The readings are based on telephone interviews with just- over 300 households. Data are in Haver's USECON database. The expectations figure is in Haver's AS1REPNA database.

University of Michigan (Q1'66 = 100) Mid
Sep
Aug Jul Sep
Y/Y
2010 2009 2008
Consumer Sentiment 57.8 55.7 63.7 -15.2% 71.8 66.3 63.8
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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